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From left: Sheriff Bill Yessman, Fraud Investigator Craig Bianco, DA Joe Fazzary, DSS Commissioner Joanne Fratarcangelo, and DSS Fraud Unit Supervisor Tammy Brown.

Schuyler County program
is targeting welfare fraud

MONTOUR FALLS, Feb. 26 -- A 10-month-long, heightened battle by law enforcement against welfare fraud in Schuyler County was the subject of a press conference Thursday at which officials announced savings through the program of more than $1 million, and the arrest during that time of 23 individuals on fraud-related charges.

The press conference, in the county Human Services Complex, featured District Attorney Joe Fazzary, Sheriff Bill Yessman, Department of Social Services Commissioner Joanne Fratarcangelo, DSS Fraud Unit Supervisor Tammy Brown, and Deputy Craig Bianco, the program's Fraud Investigator.

He was placed there at the behest of the county Legislature, where member Phil Barnes had long been lobbying for an investigative push. The DSS had -- until two years ago -- possessed a part-time, in-house investigator who had the power of eligibility review, but not of arrest. Now, with Bianco, fraud arrests have jumped from a half-dozen a year to nearly two-dozen in 10 months.

Bianco works out of the DSS office in the Human Services Complex for 32 hours a week, with the balance of his work time on staff as security at the complex's front entrance. That proves convenient if DSS needs him quickly.

The 23 arrests were the result of 330 investigations caused by various systemic triggers. More than 120 of the probes came from fraud referrals, which Fazzary said are key to investigative success. He and the other officials present, in fact, suggested that anyone who suspects welfare fraud might call the DSS office at (607) 535-8303. "We can maintain your anonymity," he said.

Schuyler County had become known as something of a place where welfare cheats might "relocate to get benefits" through fraud, said Sheriff Yessman -- a fact that he noted has been upended with the success of the investigative program. And he said the success will continue with a consistent investigative effort.

An average of 35 to 40 cases are discussed monthly at meetings attended by Bianco, Fratarcangelo, Brown, Fazzary, and Chief Assistant District Attorney Matt Hayden -- all with an eye ultmately toward prevention over arrests.

"Front-end detection provides a huge savings," Fazzary said, since it eliminates the need for restitution that is difficult to collect in the short term. "Some of these people," he said, referring to arrestees, "can't pay it back because they don't have any money. It might take 10 years."

Among the 23 people arrested were six from Watkins Glen, five from Montour Falls, four from Elmira, two from Odessa, and one each from Beaver Dams, Dundee, Alpine, Bradford, Trumansburg and Horseheads.

Through the arrests, through the closing of 79 cases with benefit reductions, and through the civil administration of other cases, the DSS is on a course it needs to be on, says Fratarcangelo.

"We want people to receive benefits, but to be honest, too," she said. "We want to work with people on what they're truly entitled to."

Photos in text:

Top: DSS Commissioner Joanne Fratarcangelo.
Bottom: Present, from left, were county legislators Phil Barnes, Dennis Fagan, Barb Halpin and Carl Blowers, and county administrator Tim O'Hearn.

 

© The Odessa File 2015
Charles Haeffner
P.O. Box 365
Odessa, New York 14869

E-mail publisher@odessafile.com